The Birth of a NationAbraham to Joseph—page 4

Then the angel of the Lord called out of heaven, saying, “Abraham, Abraham.”

And he answered, “Here I am.” And the Lord said, “Do not lay your hand on Isaac for now I know that you revere Me, since you did not withhold your only son.”

And Abraham lifted up his head and looked, and there, behind him, was a ram caught in a bush by his horns. So Abraham took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

The Bible says that Abraham knew that God would fulfill His promises about Isaac, even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead.

Then because of Abraham’s faith, God said,“ I will bless you. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of all heaven; And through your offspring, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because you obeyed my voice.”

Then Abraham rejoiced as he understood that the Savior, promised long before in the Garden, would come from his descendants.

God’s test of Abraham also illustrated how, one day, God, the heavenly Father, would offer His only beloved son as a sacrifice for the whole world.